Non-members will have free access for 24 hours, including as many rides as you like without having to pay the usual £2 fee, as long as you dock every 30 minutes.

Transport for London (TfL) has also joined forces with British Cycling to offer two central London group rides aimed at helping nervous cyclists build their confidence. The first is the Hyde Park Fantasy Loop on on Saturday 16 August and the second is the women-only Breeze Bike Ride in Regent's Park on Sunday 17 August.

If you're up for either of the the group rides, remember that places are limited and you need to register first at British Cycling's website,goskyride.com/London.

TfL announced in June that it is on the lookout for new sponsors after Barclays declined to renew their sponsorship agreement in 2015. Although use of the scheme has declined, a study conducted by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine showed that the health benefits of cycle hire outweighed the risks.

Visit TfL's website for more details on the free weekend cycle hire and group rides.

Latest Podcast

Best of Londonist

When will the bank provide helmets for the casual rider?But then... safety never really was an issue or great concern for any major financial organisation, was it?

Joe Peach

Anyone interested in how an urban cycle hire scheme can provide helmets should look to Melbourne. In Australia, helmet use is mandatory: http://www.melbournebikeshare....

The mandatory cycle helmet law in Australia is considered to be a major contributor to the failure of Melbourne's cycle hire scheme.

Of course, helmets don't actually make cyclists invincible. There are lots of part of the body that are quite useful, including the head, and there is nothing a helmet can do if you're being run over by a lorry.